Inspiring Talks with Ilhaam - Crime within schools and gangsterism and how it affects families and communities. This month we are dealing with trauma on the Cape Flats Nadia is the resident counsellor at Belthorn Primary School. Her qualifications are consultant in social psychology, mindful practitioner and senior counselor. Facebook: Inspire Elsies Radio WhatsApp: 068 102 4094 www.inspireelsiesradio.co.za Download our app on Google Play and the App Store. Common Aspects of Learnt Behaviour and Gangsterism The involvement of youth in gangsterism is often viewed through the lens of social learning theory and cultural transmission, where anti-social behaviour is adopted as a response to complex external factors. Aspect Description of Learnt Behaviour Contributing Factors Search for Identity and Belonging Gangs provide a new "family" and a sense of fraternity and brotherhood to youth experiencing low self-esteem or a lack of belonging in school or home life. Gang leaders actively recruit younger, often struggling members by promising status and protection. Dysfunctional or single-parent families, lack of supervision, poor academic performance, learning difficulties, and exposure to poor role models within immediate and extended families. Acquisition of Status and Power Gangsters are seen as powerful role models who propagate the message that money and social power are found in illicit activities. Youth learn to use violence and intimidation to gain respect and assert dominance. High unemployment, poverty, overcrowding, and the resulting economic deprivation in the community. Normalisation of Violence Learners recreate the violent behaviours they observe in their community. The constant exposure to gang-related violence, drug abuse, and domestic violence in the community normalizes aggression and criminality. Gangs operate openly in the community, with visible signs like graffiti, and may target youth who are vulnerable due to economically unstable family backgrounds. Criminal Learning Joining a gang provides "opportunities for criminal learning", where members are taught to engage in petty crimes, drug trafficking, and sometimes more sophisticated criminal acts. Younger children are sometimes recruited because they are protected from prosecution under the Child Protection Act. Easy access to drugs, alcohol, and weapons in the surrounding community. Impact on Families and Communities The presence of school crime and gangsterism has a profound and destructive impact on the social fabric of the Cape Flats. Impact on Families Mental Strain and Fear: Mothers, particularly those raising boys, experience "incredible mental strain" and constant "worry" about their children being recruited or targeted by rival gangs just for where they live or for associating with the wrong people. Erosion of Authority: Parents and grandparents note that children involved in gangs often lose respect for adults and are willing to commit serious acts of violence, making it difficult for families to provide a secure environment. Dysfunction and Neglect: Socio-economic factors like poverty and substance abuse lead to dysfunctional family situations, which in turn place children at higher risk of gang involvement as they seek an alternative support structure. Impact on Communities Constant Fear and Anxiety: Community members live with constant anxiety and fear of violence, which can lead to apathy and negatively affect overall psychological well-being. Gang activity restricts the mobility of non-gang youth and increases their risk of being victims of crime. Disruption of Education: The school environment, which should be a safe space, becomes an arena for violence, leading to disruptive behaviour, educator absence due to trauma counselling, missed contact time for disciplinary hearings, and consequently, a decline in academic performance and higher dropout rates. Economic Stagnation: Increased extortion by gangsters prevents young people from establishing their own businesses, discouraging participation in the mainstream economy and perpetuating the cycle of poverty. Loss of Social Cohesion: The gang and "turf" wars on the Cape Flats disrupt family networks and dissolve the social glue which existed before forced removals, making it difficult for communities to organize and fight against the problem effectively.